Dorival cements new system as Corinthians go three games without conceding | OneFootball

Corinthians has improved in recent games and is experiencing a period of growth in the Brazilian Championship. The team, which previously struggled with ups and downs, has found consistency and defensive solidity with the new system adopted by coach Dorival Júnior.

Dorival had been experimenting with the three-defender system for some time, but the formation was put into practice in the last rounds of the Brasileirão. The team fluctuated at first, but has finally adapted and is now reaping the rewards.

They have now gone three consecutive games without conceding a goal. During this period, there were three victories that put Timão in the running for a spot in next year’s Libertadores.

Dorival’s Options

Dorival Júnior has several options for lining up Corinthians with three defenders. The pillar of the system is central defender Gustavo Henrique, an undisputed starter under the coach. On the right side, the current holder of the position is the young João Pedro Tchoca, who took the spot from André Ramalho.

The left side sees more rotation. Angileri played the role in the victory over Grêmio last Sunday, but Cacá, Hugo, and even Raniele, playing deeper, can fill the position.

In a press conference, coach Dorival Júnior spoke about the variations the system offers the team. Since the coach’s arrival, in 34 matches played, Corinthians has kept a clean sheet in half of them (17 games).

“It’s a system that allows you to make changes during the match. We work on variations with players who fit this profile. If I have Angileri, I can push Bidu forward or bring him inside. Today, Grêmio had a strong transition with Alysson on the flank, and Angileri didn’t allow any chances, he marked impeccably. We had good ball distribution and were well positioned with our defensive system. We’ve done it with Raniele, three center-backs, with Hugo, even holding Matheuzinho back. These are changes you make based on the players’ understanding,” he analyzed.

“Once again today, we didn’t concede any goals. That’s 34 matches, and in half of them we didn’t concede. That’s an important fact,” he added.

Corinthians’ Next Match

G6 in Sight

Corinthians is experiencing a period of growth in the Brazilian Championship. Dorival Júnior’s team has strung together a sequence of three consecutive victories and put itself in the fight for a spot in the 2026 Libertadores. Timão occupies tenth place in the standings, with 42 points, six behind Botafogo, which currently holds the last G6 spot.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.